Anatomy › Back and Shoulders › All Levels

Lizzie Reumont

This yoga tutorial looks at how the arms and shoulders help to support movement, expression, circulation and spinal health. Learn how to move and open your shoulders for greater connection to your body. This is also a great tutorial to help counter the effect on the shoulders of chaturanga and to support those with previous injuries to their shoulder such as tennis elbow, frozen shoulder or bursitis. No need for a yoga mat, this tutorial can be done anywhere!

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Lucy & Ben Parker

Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine which can present in spectrum of different grades. For some, a scoliosis can be very mild, hardly noticeable and certainly not an issue for everyday movement and living. For others it can be very inhibiting, restricting movement, causing pain and discomfort, perhaps even leading to corrective surgery. In this video, Lucy & Ben explain what scoliosis is and explore how you can help yourself, or loved ones, with this condition. Explore the role of good breathing and gentle movement to stretch out and gain ease and comfort. Please note that all advice and recommendations in this film are given generally and do not constitute any form of an individual diagnosis or treatment plan. A consultation with a medical practitioner or registered physical therapist is recommended.

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Lucy & Ben Parker

A yoga anatomy tutorial all about the spine; essential for any yoga students and teachers looking to expand their knowledge! The more we know about the spine the more remarkable and astonishing it becomes; it is fundamental in so many movement patterns allowing us to move in so many ways whilst staying light, graceful and steady. This video will teach you about the intricate structure of your spine and begin to respect its subtle changes and adaptations that make life on two feet possible and enjoyable. Class starts by offering you a way to gain a felt sense of your spine and its various ranges of movement and functions. Then discover how to find good posture in standing and sitting to limit those all too common issues of back ache. Finally, learn how to use your spine to inform your alignment, ease and freedom on your yoga mat. NB: All advice and recommendations in this film are given generally and do not constitute any form of an individual diagnosis or treatment plan. A consultation with a medical practitioner or registered physical therapist is recommended.

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Lucy & Ben Parker

This anatomy yoga video will teach you about the shoulder joint and what can go wrong with it. Frozen Shoulder has become a catch-all phrase to explain a range of shoulder issues. In particular, we focus on a condition called adhesive capsulitis (which we could call a true frozen shoulder) and how best to adapt your yoga practice to best support your recovery from this condition. NB: Please note that all advice and recommendations in this film are given generally and do not constitute any form of an individual diagnosis or treatment plan. A consultation with a medical practitioner or registered physical therapist is recommended.

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Lucy & Ben Parker

In this yoga anatomy class, learn about the anatomy of the spine and the most common causes of low back pain in adults, followed by suggestions on how you can strengthen and support your spine during a yoga class. It’s estimated up to 8 out of 10 people in the UK are affected by back pain at some point in their lives with around a third of the population suffering an episode of low back pain each year. Understanding the anatomy of our lumbar spine and the importance of core stability can truly help you to support and maintain a healthy back on and off your yoga mat. NB: Please note that all advice and recommendations in this film are given generally and do not constitute any form of an individual diagnosis or treatment plan. A consultation with a medical practitioner or registered physical therapist is recommended.

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Lucy & Ben Parker

In this yoga anatomy class, learn what sciatica is, what causes it and how we can alleviate the pain we may experience. The sciatic nerves are the largest nerves in our body, carrying signals to and from our lower limbs (legs). They start their journey at the base of our spine, travel through the buttocks and down the back of our thighs before dividing into many smaller nerves which continue down to our feet and toes. When we experience pain along the course of the sciatic nerves we call this sciatica, most often affecting the low back, buttock and back of the thigh on one side. There are many causes for sciatica and in this film we explain the differences between them. We then focus on how one of the buttock muscles called piriformis can be the source of the problem and how best to alleviate your pain if this is the cause for you. NB: Please note that all advice and recommendations in this film are given generally and do not constitute any form of an individual diagnosis or treatment plan. A consultation with a medical practitioner or registered physical therapist is recommended.

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Andrew McGonigle

There's no 'right' or 'wrong' in any yoga pose, so long as movements are made slowly and in a controlled way, mindfully and with the breath, and of course so long as there is no pain or pre-existing injury! With that in mind, Chaturanga or low plank, is one of the hardest yoga poses to master. This short tutorial on the yoga pose Chaturanga shows the action needed for the pose. Do take heed, the pose needs a LOT of strength in the shoulders and abdomen, which you'll need to build separately and whilst you build that strength, or if the pose is not suitable for your body, do please practice with your knees to the ground, or simply do a high push up, rather than the low push of Chaturanga. Enjoy!

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Andrew McGonigle

Dr Yogi gives us an essential series of movements for anyone with troubled shoulders. Shoulder stabilisation and strengthening is essential for all vinyasa flow yoga practices and for those of us who suffer from painful shoulders from poor posture, arthritis, instability or injury. This yoga class can improve your shoulder strength and stability when you practice this sequence regularly. You will need a strap, a block and a bolster.

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Andrew McGonigle

In this workshop-style tutorial, Dr Yogi discusses why the lower back is so often prone to injury and offers general advice for supporting your lower back during your yoga practice. Following this, a short sequence focusing on the lower back and strengthening the core has been carefully designed to simultaneously strengthen and release tension your spine. This is perfect for anyone with lower back aches and pains. Try to do this video at least three times a week to really feel the benefits and as with any sensitive area of the body, seek medical advice where appropriate.

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Andrew McGonigle

A short tutorial class by Andrew, Dr Yogi, in which he shows us the importance of keeping strength in the shoulder girdle. This is a key piece of anatomy for all of us, and can be viewed as an anatomical explanation to Kristi Johnson's 'wrapping the shoulders' video, for the Forrest Yoga technique to keeping the shoulders stable.

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